North West initiate deaths: ‘Traditional practices cannot be clouded by murder’
The North West Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) has called on police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of five initiates.
This comes after the discovery of five decomposed bodies near Mosweu village during the festive season.
Two suspects, 19-year-old Obakeng Segwabe and 21-year-old Olebogeng Mafora, abandoned their bail application following their arrest for running an illegal initiation school in the area.
The committee’s chairperson, Kgosi Gasebone, says those responsible for the deaths should face the full might of the law.
"The PICC strongly condemns the killing of young boys in the name of initiation practices. Law enforcement agencies should investigate the death of these boys, and the suspects should be apprehended and charged accordingly.”
Gasebone says they will not allow traditional practices to be clouded by murder and misinformation.
He says parents, communities, and the government should work together to ensure that initiates always come back alive from initiation schools.
"The PICC is concerned about the lives of initiates. We are appealing to community members in protecting these customary practices as well as the lives of initiates," he added.
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